Keeping Service Records After Car Maintenance Booklet Is Completed?

LTechieARG on 11/01/2023 - 21:05
Last edited 12/01/2023 - 09:08 by 1 other user

Hi All,

Does anybody know what happens once you complete the car maintenance booklet? Do you get a new one from the dealership? Do you stop doing maintenance to your car o.o?

I was looking at scheduling the next maintenance for the car, and found out the booklet is full (160.000 KMs for a Nissan X-Trail) I guess I just need to continue doing the maintenance every 10k or similar but I want to make sure the information is captured in a new booklet in case I want to sell the car.

Thank you.

I tried god Google but was not helpful, and the dearliship is sleeping right now.

Automotive

Comments

  • SmiTTy on 11/01/2023 - 21:06
    +4

    I just keep the invoices from the mechanic.
    This states when the service was carried out (date and kms)

    • TechieARG on 11/01/2023 - 21:12
      -1

      Thanks, always looking forward to store some more paper :p

      • ssfps on 11/01/2023 - 22:40
        +2

        I know you're joking, but I scan and digitally file such documents.

  • solidussnake on 11/01/2023 - 21:06
    +2

    Keep servicing with the regular schedule like 10,000kms and keep the receipts helps with resale and shows it has been looked after

    • TechieARG on 11/01/2023 - 21:12

      Thank you for the quick answer!

  • Nugs on 11/01/2023 - 21:21
    +2

    Just keep doing things per schedule. Oil every xkm, plugs every time, air filter every xkm. Apart from initial 1000/1500 service, the distance (or time if so inclined) is the same between for each item. We have a car that we followed the schedule the second time through. The requirements were pretty much repeated every 40000km. All cars will be different though
    .

    • ssfps on 11/01/2023 - 22:43
      +1

      Most accurate reply ITT.
      Timing belt every 100,000/5 years, ATF drain and fill every 5 years/80,000, brakes and coolant every 2 years or 40,000kms, etc etc…

      The only caveat is on the second trip round the book there might be items which aren't listed that should be looked closer at in addition, like ps fluid, o2 sensors, etc.

      • dcep on 12/01/2023 - 00:38

        Fluid , i can understand that it could deteriorates overtime even on lower mileage from short distance driving or frequently parked.

        But timing belt ? What if i only drive 15k kms in 5 years.

        • ssfps on 12/01/2023 - 03:24

          Many rubber (synthetics too) and plastics degrade over time regardless of use, so at least for interference engines where timing belt failure can destroy the engine, i'd replace them according to the time bases spec if not reaching the k's spec.
          That said, they are usually very conservative/cautious/overengineered replacement intervals (due to seriousness of failure), so many people obviously go a lot longer (or drive a lot further) than the spec.

      • Manny Calavera on 13/01/2023 - 00:13

        10 years for a timing belt. They don’t make them out of chewing gum.

        • ssfps on 13/01/2023 - 00:33

          Is 10 years the average recommended lifespan nowadays? I thought it was more often 5 but i'm not a mechanic and mostly worked on older cars.

  • elgrande on 11/01/2023 - 21:24
    +6

    Once you have completed the booklet you need to return the car to the dealer.

    • Ghost47 on 11/01/2023 - 21:35
      +3

      It's good because they then offer you a 50% discount on a new car. Well done!

      It's a little known trick that car salesmen hate.

  • 7ekn00 on 11/01/2023 - 21:27
    +2

    Does anybody know what happens once you complete the car maintenance booklet?

    You get a manufacturers achievement (via Steam) and the car never needs servicing again, but still gets top dollar for resale ;)

    • Switchblade88 on 11/01/2023 - 21:31

      Cool, yet another thingy I can sell for nine cents! I can almost afford a Team Fortress 2 hat

  • Euphemistic on 11/01/2023 - 21:41

    If you must, keep the receipts. I’d guess that 90% of buyers looking at a car with 160,000km don’t care to see a log book. It means less than the overall condition of the car to many.

    That level of record keeping might be of interest to a collector IF it’s a rare/special car.

    • mskeggs on 12/01/2023 - 07:22
      +1

      I have rarely owned a car with fewer kms than this, and precise log book servicing is not much of a concern.
      I look to see if big stuff like a timing belt is due/done, check the oil isn’t black tar that has never been changed and check the engine for oil leaks or suspiciously clean.
      If there are log books and receipts, this is a plus, but for older/cheaper vehicles I stretch out stuff like spark plug replacement, and am not concerned if 10000km/12m becomes 10000km/2years.

      But this is for cars that have been lower cost. With the ongoing markup in car prices I’d be more cautious if paying $10k instead of $5k.

      • Euphemistic on 12/01/2023 - 11:43
        +2

        Totally agree. I’ve also bought most of my cars well over 100,000km and a long way outside warranty.

        If there’s a sticker on the windscreen saying service has been done sometime in the last 6months that’s a good start, then checking fluids and going for a test drive is more important than checking receipts and log book. Obviously if an owner is offering a look at the log book it’s a good thing, but if they are doing that I’ll just trust them.

        A lot of second hand dealers will chuck away any log books when they get the vehicle because they know they aren’t that useful.

  • SBOB on 11/01/2023 - 21:44

    It's like one of those frequent visit coffee cards right?
    next time you get a free service and a new book…..

  • pegaxs on 11/01/2023 - 22:13

    No point driving after you have gotten the final achievement unlocked. End game content is lacking any substance. Well done for getting all the bounties done though.

  • Transient on 11/01/2023 - 22:56

    Coincidence. I have a 2006 X-trail. If you google common issues, I had to replace the cam and shaft sensors after 100,000km. After 10+ years the rubber engine mounts may need also replacing. Have done one and the rest in the next year or so. Good thing about these old x-trails is that if the engine check light goes on, you can self-diagnose (by pumping the accelerator pedal (with the engine off) a specified number of times and counting the number of times the lights flash) without any fancy equipment.

    I don't use it much. A few times per week to the train station and back, Bunnings now and then and the odd long trip. About a few hundred km per year. So I just get a minor service every year before the long trip.

    Apparently the fluids (gearbox, diff, coolant, brake) should be replaced every three years. I got quotes and it was cheaper to get a 120,000km major service at the dealer (rather than my usual mechanic just replacing these fluids), which not only does these but others things too. So I get a major service every three years. The last major service also replaced the power steering fluid as apparently it had never been changed so was quite dirty. They also serviced the injector.

    YMMV, ie you may need a major service more often if you drive more or a minor service every six months (rather than 12).

    edit: just keep the invoices detailing the work carried out.

  • spackbace on 11/01/2023 - 23:39

    Many service books have extra pages for additional services. Whilst not stating what's required etc, it gives you a quick easy way to get it stamped and dated

  • Ocker on 12/01/2023 - 06:38

    MB will sell you a new service book for $25

  • cashless on 12/01/2023 - 08:09

    Get a blank piece of paper, draw out a handwritten template based on the “km milestones” beyond 160,000km.
    Staple it into service book & ask service mechanic to stamp each time

  • nswnotill on 12/01/2023 - 08:17

    Why not purchase a generic motor vehicle service book from Ebay? Cost you $10. It has all the details you require.
    .

    • TechieARG on 12/01/2023 - 13:59

      I will get one, thanks!

      • TechieARG on 15/01/2023 - 13:41

        Ended up buying it in eBay for $9.99

  • Sleeqb7 on 12/01/2023 - 12:23

    After all the neatly lined sheets with service info on them, my old booklet had a bunch of blank pages in which mechanics would haphazardly stamp their logos and note the deets.

  • JIMB0 on 12/01/2023 - 12:24
    +3

    My book only went to 195k then it said for the 210k service to start again at the 45k page and keep going.

  • lachhelix on 13/01/2023 - 01:37
    +1

    If you think it's important enough, some manufacturers will sell you a new blank service book :)

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